Watercooler Stories

LAPORTE, Ind., July 29 (UPI) -- Authorities in Indiana said a sheriff's sergeant was made to pay a $5 admission fee to get into the LaPorte County Fair so he could make an arrest.

LaPorte County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Mike Kellems arrived at the fair just after 5 p.m. Friday and told gate attendants he was there to take a fugitive into custody, The (LaPorte) Herald-Argus reported.

However, workers at the fair, which used a private security firm instead of the county sheriff's department for the first time this year, insisted the deputy had to pay $5 admission.

Kellems paid the $5 and entered the fair, where sheriff's department Chief of Detectives John Boyd, who was at the fair on his off time, was waiting with fugitive Robert Aubin, 23, whom Boyd recognized at the fair.

"I think there's some common sense that got overlooked there," Gene Shurte, general manager of the LaPorte County Fair, said.

Candidate taped pulling up opposing signs

MILTON, Fla., July 29 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said they were investigating whether a crime was committed when a political candidate was videotaped pulling up his opponent's signs.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said it is investigating the YouTube video, which shows state House District 1 Republican candidate Greg Brown and his wife, Jennifer, pulling up primary opponent Doug Broxson's campaign signs alongside state roads 87 and 89 near Milton, The Pensacola (Fla.) Times reported.

The video was taken by Broxson's son, Jason, who was videotaping from the bushes when the Browns arrived and took down the signs. Broxson campaign officials said Jason Broxson was setting up the camera for security and happened to still be there when the Browns arrived.

"Honestly, we just got lucky that he happened to show up right then," said Kevin Brown, Broxson's campaign manager, who is not related to Greg Brown. "Lord only knows the odds of that."

Greg Brown said the signs were on private property and he had an agreement with the owner, Don Dewrell, stating that only his signs would be displayed.

Police concerned about pot convention

PONTIAC, Mich., July 29 (UPI) -- Police in a Michigan city said a planned 3-day marijuana convention raises a number of legal issues.

Pontiac Police Chief Val Gross said the department just learned this week about the planned First International Cannabis Convention, scheduled for Halloween weekend at the recently reopened Pontiac Silverdome, and police have numerous concerns about legality, The Detroit News reported.

The City Council recently passed a moratorium on medical marijuana initiatives and businesses within Pontiac.

"It (the convention) raises a wide variety of questions about what is not only inappropriate but illegal," Gross said. "One thing is certain -- marijuana is not legal in Pontiac. Any marijuana-smoking paraphernalia is not legal in Pontiac. And I believe, considering the new cigarette smoking laws in Michigan, smoking anything even in a privately owned building like the Silverdome is also illegal."

"The question is ... how are you going to enforce this?" he said.

Irish boy gets $9,700 in defamation suit

BALBRIGGAN, Ireland, July 29 (UPI) -- An Irish 5-year-old was awarded $9,700 from a grocery store in an out-of-court settlement concerning false accusations of stealing a bag of chips.

The family of Tadhg Mooney, 6, of Balbriggan, said a Lidl supermarket worker grabbed the boy by the arm June 24, 2009, when the boy was 5 years old, and falsely imprisoned him at the store on accusations of stealing a bag of chips, Britain's The Daily Telegraph reported.

The lawsuit, which alleged defamation of character on the part of Lidl Ireland, was settled out of court for $9,700.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.